Gone.

The massive shadow of Lingzhao Peak passed over everyone’s heads.

The blazing sunlight, no longer blocked, finally shone down smoothly, spreading flat across the river surface, shattering it into flowing gold.

Along the riverbank, everyone’s faces reflected the flowing light of the river water, yet not a single person could speak.

It all seemed like a dream…

The Guardian Light had been shattered, and now entering Kunwu faced no further obstacles.

After a long silence, a ray of light shot up from the ground, flying straight to the opposite shore!

The river crossing was open!

After this ray of light, countless others finally awakened from their daze.

“Crossing the river! Crossing the river!”

Whether riding magical artifacts or flying through the air, instantly a swarm of locust-like shadows rushed toward the opposite shore.

On the platform.

Lu Xiangleng’s gaze had not yet returned from Yashan’s distant Lingzhao Peak when countless figures blocked her view, making it impossible to see clearly.

“Cough…”

With a light cough, her mountain-like brows furrowed, carrying an indescribable frailty.

Several female cultivators from Baiyue Valley all appeared somewhat dazed from excessive shock.

That person…

Wasn’t she the same female cultivator they had seen on Baishi Mountain? Even the marten on her shoulder was identical.

Lu Xiangleng naturally recognized her too. With a sigh, she turned back and saw the expressions on everyone’s faces.

She couldn’t help but smile: “There are mountains beyond mountains—no need to mind it too much.”

Indeed, only someone with such a refreshing spring-like temperament could be Yashan’s Senior Martial Sister.

“Let’s go, we should depart too.”

Lu Xiangleng’s voice was unhurried and steady.

With just a step into the void, she rode the wind away.

The moment her figure rose into the air, countless people around noticed.

Thus, exclamations arose everywhere.

“It’s the Medicine Woman!”

“Fairy Lu…”

“From Baiyue Valley…”

…

On the platform.

The shocked Yu Shanxing reached out, forcibly pressing his jaw back into place.

“Good heavens… that’s Kunwu…”

Yet he just crashed right through.

That was a hot championship contender from Kunwu, yet he threw her away without a second thought.

“But that’s also Yashan.”

Though Jiang Wenchao’s emotions were surging, he said this calmly.

Yu Shanxing immediately looked at Jiang Wenchao with the eyes of one viewing a monster.

Jiang Wenchao smiled slightly, offering no further explanation, only saying: “Now that the Guardian Light is broken, presumably we need wait no longer. Thank you for the directions, Sect Master. We part ways here.”

With a bow, he turned to leave.

But after taking only a few steps, Jiang Wenchao’s footsteps stopped.

Ahead, over ten blue-robed cultivators wearing no magical artifacts stood in the distance. Among them, an imposing young man was surrounded by the crowd, gazing at Jiang Wenchao with undisguised arrogance and mockery in his eyes.

Tongling Pavilion’s He Jiuyi.

Currently ranked eighth, he was quite likely to ascend to the One Person Platform.

Jiang Wenchao also looked at him, as if seeing his former self.

He too had once possessed such arrogance.

But later, it had vanished completely.

He Jiuyi finally began to move slowly, walking over leisurely. Seeing his maple-red robes, he couldn’t help but let out a scoff.

“Haven’t seen you in years, Senior Brother Jiang still looks the same. Hmm, your cultivation seems to still be at early Golden Core stage—it didn’t drop, how truly rare!”

Jiang Wenchao slowly lifted his head to look at him, saying nothing.

On the river surface, cultivator figures flew past one after another.

Behind the large tree by the riverbank, the golden abacus Qian Que was already scared out of his wits. This Gu Qingmei was really THE Gu Qingmei from the Killing Red Realm!

Damn it!

He had already thoroughly offended her by saying “if you don’t like it, deal with it” to Gu Qingmei earlier. When entering the third trial of One Green City, if he hadn’t been quick-witted and disguised himself as Meng Xizhou to escape disaster, it wouldn’t have been as simple as just being eliminated from the Killing Red Realm—he would have been torn to pieces on the spot!

This minor assembly happened to be on Kunwu’s territory, and the golden abacus’s voice was too distinctive. Moreover, hardly anyone used an abacus.

He was about to accidentally run into this harpy…

After trembling in his heart for a long time, Qian Que looked at Kunwu’s eleven peaks across the way, truly torn to the extreme.

Finally, his eyes hardened!

A thief never leaves empty-handed—having come to Kunwu, how could he return?

Moreover…

“Hehe.”

Qian Que let out a lecherous laugh, directly extending his hand. A long staff appeared in his grasp.

He gripped the long staff with all five fingers, planting it on the ground with a thud!

“Bang.”

A muffled sound.

“Cough, cough.”

Qian Que coughed once, cleared his throat, straightened his slightly hunched back, and immediately puffed out his chest.

Mm, very good.

From now on, this abacus would be called Meng Xizhou!

His courage suddenly bolstered, Qian Que swept his surroundings with bold and disdainful eyes, finally emerging from behind the large tree to join the crowd crossing the river.

In the teleportation array.

A burly man with a bear’s back and tiger’s waist, carrying a black long staff, appeared on the platform after the array’s light flashed.

Meng Xizhou!

He looked ahead, his heart immediately burning with passion, his entire body ablaze with hot blood!

Senior, Meng has arrived!

The senior who could enter the Killing Red Realm might very well appear at this minor assembly too!

He just didn’t know if they were among the hot favorites or hidden among the unknown crowd.

Meng Xizhou was so excited he wanted to shout, and without hesitation, he transformed into a ray of light, rushing toward the opposite shore!

My peerless hero, I’m coming!

The vast crowd formed a river in the sky, a magnificent spectacle.

Among the Fengmo Sword Sect group, the dark red-robed youth also withdrew his gaze.

Jian Chou’s identity was within his expectations, so he wasn’t particularly surprised.

The gloomy expression between his brows never dispersed. He directly flicked his sleeve and stepped onto an indistinct light, flying away.

…

By the riverbank.

A yawning youth sitting casually on the ground lazily rolled up some kind of album that had been spread on his knees, stretched: “Ah, finally time to depart! The one who’s admired… this rogue is coming!”

…

On the platform steps.

A youth wearing beast-hide shorts and barefoot on the ground, hugging a large watermelon, was madly scooping out the bright red melon flesh with an iron spoon, constantly stuffing it into his mouth.

While eating, he mumbled to himself: “I’ll leave after the last bite, the last bite!”

The iron spoon kept falling, but the person showed no signs of leaving.

…

In the forest, on the platform, countless people of all kinds converged on Kunwu at this moment.

Gu Qingmei stood on the river water. With spiritual power, she had already dried her soaked robes.

She coldly looked back at the surging crowd, snorted coldly, and directly transformed into a streak of light, racing toward Kunwu’s central main peak!

At this moment, Yashan’s Lingzhao Peak had already passed through the gap between two of the outer ten peaks, gradually approaching the main peak.

Kunwu’s main peak, viewed from above, gave only a sense of precipitous danger. All the pavilions, towers, wooden houses, and long paths were reduced to tiny shadows, with only vague outlines visible.

The Cloud Sea Plaza floated in the high sky above the main peak’s summit. The floating clouds, illuminated by sunlight, sparkled brilliantly, creating a truly ethereal atmosphere around the Cloud Sea Plaza.

A magnificent hall hung high above the plaza’s north side, entirely gray-white jade colored, with the saying “three hundred feet from heaven.” Fan-shaped steps led straight up from the hall’s base, with high walls standing on both sides like two long sharp thorns piercing the clouds.

A suspended plaque flashed with golden light, with the ancient characters “Heavens” carved upon it.

This was the Heavens Hall.

Fudao Shanren controlled Lingzhao Peak, quickly approaching this place, then directly let out a long laugh: “Old monster Hengxu, long time no see, this mountain man has arrived!”

Behind him, countless Yashan disciples had the impulse to bang their heads against the ground.

Jian Chou also helplessly pressed her forehead: At least these were two top-tier sects of the Central Domain—couldn’t they meet more formally?

But Fudao Shanren clearly had no such intention.

He treated Kunwu like his own backyard, completely free and uninhibited.

Just as his great shout landed, a long sigh emerged from within the hall.

“Rumble!”

Before the entire Heavens Hall and above the Cloud Sea Plaza, white clouds immediately surged like tides, quickly gathering directly in front of Lingzhao Peak, spreading flat to form a white cloud pathway leading straight to the Heavens Hall’s highest point!

“Three hundred years without meeting, Brother Fudao’s bearing remains unchanged—congratulations! Please!”

“Excellent!”

Upon seeing the white cloud pathway and hearing that word “please,” Fudao Shanren’s eyes immediately lit up.

With one step, his entire figure flickered and vanished from Lingzhao Peak’s Sword-Drawing Platform, appearing on the white cloud pathway.

Without looking back, he directly called to the Yashan group: “Jian Chou, all of you come down. Don’t be polite—we Yashan and Kunwu are one family. Just treat this place as your own home. Now this mountain man will take you to see Kunwu’s old monster Hengxu, hahaha!”

“…”

All the Yashan disciples were collectively speechless.

Why hasn’t Kunwu beaten you to death here?

Jian Chou stood on the Sword-Drawing Platform, smiling helplessly, though her eyes carried a weight of gravity.

She came down with Zheng Yao, following Fudao Shanren’s steps along the white cloud pathway toward the hall at the far end.

At the highest point of the hall’s countless steps was a circular platform, where the faintly visible thirty-zhang Zhou Tian Star Chart stood tall.

Brilliant silver light moved and swirled within the star chart, as if carrying profound mysteries.

True Person Hengxu stood with his back to the star chart, at the heights of the Heavens Hall, watching Fudao Shanren approaching along the white cloud pathway.

Kunwu’s Guardian Light had been devastated by Fudao Shanren three hundred years ago, making it difficult to activate. Only long after he left the Nineteen Continents did it slowly recover. Today, struck again by his Lingzhao Peak, it would need several more years of recuperation.

“Your master’s nature remains unchanged after all these years…”

Thinking this, he laughed peacefully and spoke.

Two people stood behind him.

The left was his third true disciple Wu Duan, wearing white robes with a somewhat stern handsomeness; the right was Yashan’s Qu Zhengfeng, in black robes, lips curved in a natural arc, still gentle and seemingly harmless.

True Person Hengxu’s earlier words were directed at him.

Qu Zhengfeng had come to Kunwu earlier due to the Qingfeng Nunnery hidden realm incident, to explain the situation.

He hadn’t expected such coincidence—running into Fudao Shanren too.

The smile in his eyes became more genuine, and he replied to True Person Hengxu quite respectfully: “The True Person’s discerning eyes are completely correct. Master has been out for three hundred years and returned exactly the same.”

“Sigh…”

True Person Hengxu shook his head with a sigh.

Wu Duan behind him showed a more peculiar expression: As Kunwu’s Head, the Central Domain’s leading figure, True Person Hengxu’s emotions were usually either absent or extremely stable and unexpressed. Yet now he was sighing?

Legend had it that a thousand years ago, True Person Hengxu and Fudao Shanren were two parallel geniuses. Now one was Yashan’s most senior elder, the other Kunwu’s respected Head, with deep friendship between them.

The Left Three Thousand Minor Assembly three hundred years ago had been the same, hadn’t it?

Time rushed by without looking back.

In the blink of an eye, so many years had passed.

Thinking this, Wu Duan couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Ahead, Fudao Shanren had arrived nearby, stepping directly before them. His gaze swept over, seeing True Person Hengxu, then Qu Zhengfeng, and finally Wu Duan. Without greeting True Person Hengxu first, he exclaimed “Oh!”

“Isn’t this Wu Duan? Hahaha, are your injuries healed?”

“…”

Wu Duan’s barely risen smile immediately froze on his face, his complexion darkening.

He was completely choked by Fudao Shanren’s words!

Injuries?

What other injuries could there be besides those from his previous battle with Qu Zhengfeng!

Wu Duan secretly spat old blood, forcibly suppressing the urge to twitch, bowing: “Junior Wu Duan pays respects to Elder Fudao. Thank you for your concern, Elder—they’ve completely healed.”

“Quite fast.”

Fudao Shanren looked like he was saying “surprisingly healed already,” utterly infuriating.

Shaking his head, he looked at Qu Zhengfeng: “You’re here too.”

“Disciple pays respects to Master.”

Qu Zhengfeng also stepped forward, explaining: “I sent a message to Master earlier. Having left the Qingfeng Nunnery hidden realm, I first informed Kunwu about Junior Brother Xie’s situation, so I came here first.”

Speaking of Xie Buchen, he was also unlucky.

Fudao Shanren understood immediately, waving his hand, and finally walked before True Person Hengxu.

He appeared extremely thin, standing there completely incongruous with the magnificent hall, radiating a down-and-out aura. True Person Hengxu wore clean dao robes with faintly visible ancient patterns, seemingly made of special materials—clearly a sect leader in every aspect.

Standing together, they presented an extremely indescribable contrast.

Seemingly noticing this disparity, Fudao Shanren couldn’t help but click his tongue twice, looking True Person Hengxu up and down, then gripping a chicken leg, eating while speaking.

“When I arrived, I saw countless Kunwu disciples below. Your numbers seem to have increased considerably. You’ve done well these three hundred years.”

“Like drinking water—one knows one’s own state.”

Only True Person Hengxu himself knew what it was really like.

He had earlier sent word to Fudao Shanren about the “Kunwu Great Calamity” indication he’d received from peering into heavenly secrets two years ago, so Fudao Shanren should also know Kunwu’s current situation.

True Person Hengxu said no more, only glancing at Fudao.

Fudao Shanren then looked at the Zhou Tian Star Chart behind True Person Hengxu: “Can it still divine now?”

“No longer.”

True Person Hengxu knew what he was asking and shook his head.

The Zhou Tian Star Chart’s divination of heavenly secrets had limitations—it couldn’t divine endlessly. The last prediction of Kunwu’s great calamity and Xie Buchen’s whereabouts had nearly exhausted his mental strength.

“We’ll discuss this matter later.”

Fudao Shanren also sighed.

A hundred years was but a fleeting moment for cultivators.

Yet time had arrived.

Kunwu’s great calamity—who knew if it wasn’t the entire Central Domain’s great calamity?

True Person Hengxu nodded, then looked toward the white cloud pathway.

“They’re here.”

Jian Chou and the others had arrived.

Over ten Yashan disciples, plus some higher-cultivation Yashan disciples who came to spectate, had all arrived at the Heavens Hall.

True Person Hengxu’s gaze couldn’t help but sweep over.

Behind stood ordinary Yashan disciples, then Fudao Shanren’s several disciples.

At the front were Yashan’s Sect Leader Zheng Yao and a female cultivator in moon-white robes.

Her gentle, beautiful face seemed to still carry traces of past softness. Her narrow eyes, like strokes of eyebrow paint, created a touch of distinctive beauty. The moon-white robes bore dark patterns, cinched tight at the waist, adding an upright bearing, not to mention her straight spine.

“Juniors pay respects to the True Person.”

Led by Zheng Yao, everyone bowed.

True Person Hengxu’s gaze, which had settled on Jian Chou, calmly withdrew. He said to Zheng Yao: “Yashan and Kunwu are inseparable—all of you needn’t be so formal. Sect Leader Zheng, long time no see. You honor us.”

Speaking thus, Hengxu nodded slightly at him.

By seniority, Zheng Yao was Hengxu’s junior, but as Yashan’s current Sect Leader, True Person Hengxu would greet him separately.

Zheng Yao naturally dared not presume, quickly bowing: “The True Person is too kind.”

“This must be Brother Fudao’s newly accepted eldest disciple?”

True Person Hengxu smiled, finally speaking to Fudao Shanren. He was undoubtedly referring to Jian Chou.

His gaze naturally fell on her again.

In this moment, Jian Chou also raised her head, looking at True Person Hengxu.

An ordinary-looking old man with graying hair and lined face, like Fudao Shanren, a cultivator who let time flow through his body. His power wasn’t visible externally but permeated every aspect of his gaze—calm, weathered, and wise.

This was the old man who had taken Xie Buchen as his disciple?

In that instant, countless images flashed through Jian Chou’s mind.

The blood-stained sword piercing her body; Xie Buchen walking past her with his sword, that patch of dampened robe; that rainy day, the coffin carved entire from the tree trunk, the damp smell, the huge pit that buried her…

And so far from home.

At her heart, where a sword had once pierced through, the pain began again!

A burning sensation, like a branding iron pressing down on her old wound, like that heart-piercing sword, burning through her chest!

Seek his life for revenge?

Her life was easy to claim, but what about the child?

That misplaced affection—who could she demand it from?

In that instant, countless emotions surged in her chest. In that instant, her blood mixed with hatred’s ice fragments, almost bursting from her body. In that instant, she nearly couldn’t suppress the impulse to demand answers sternly!

But none of this happened.

When countless hatreds accumulated to the extreme, they became so calm it frightened even Jian Chou herself.

Though there was no mirror before her, Jian Chou knew very clearly.

At this moment, her expression must appear no different from usual, even carrying a peaceful smile.

Only in the depths of her heart, an evil spirit unlike herself cackled malevolently.

Yet Jian Chou’s voice was calm and light: “Jian Chou greets the True Person.”

Fudao Shanren also looked over but saw no abnormality, only snorting proudly: “Foundation Establishment in thirteen days, bearing the Heavenly Disc. Tsk tsk, you Hengxu were no match for me in the past, and now your disciple is no match for mine either. Hahaha…”

“A good seedling for cultivation. Standing in this hall, unhurried and composed, she has a sense of handling things with ease. Having cultivated for only two years yet possessing such temperament—truly rare.”

True Person Hengxu’s gaze was extremely perceptive and calmly profound.

He looked at Jian Chou, showing slight appreciation, seemingly recognizing her talent.

“I heard that Zhilin Sou only ranked this child at one hundred—he must have misjudged.”

“My Jian Chou just came out of Black Wind Cave a few days ago. Zhilin Sou hasn’t received the news yet—quite normal. Hehe.” Fudao Shanren laughed, “Now she’s conveniently at one hundred, isn’t that good? Later that old fellow will have to revise the rankings, and Jian Chou will definitely shock everyone!”

“…”

So the rankings could still be continuously revised.

Jian Chou understood.

But her expression remained unchanged, because True Person Hengxu had mentioned Xie Buchen.

True Person Hengxu finally withdrew his gaze, placing one hand behind his back, glancing at the Zhou Tian Star Chart that had once predicted everything.

“This child’s cultivation has reached Foundation Establishment perfection—she could break through at any opportunity. With the Ghost Axe and her extraordinary constitution, she might greatly exceed our expectations. So outstanding, with such excellent temperament, she reminds me of my newly accepted disciple. However, Buchen is too cold, focused solely on cultivation, rarely even leaving his quarters—completely different from your disciple’s approachable nature.”

“Tsk, you have the nerve to mention your disciple?”

Fudao Shanren rolled his eyes.

“Your precious disciple is trapped in the Qingfeng Nunnery hidden realm, life and death unknown. Whether he can even participate in the minor assembly is uncertain, yet you’re still bragging? This mountain man is embarrassed for you. My Jian Chou—can your broken disciple compare? Stop being shameless!”

“…”

Startled, then amused.

True Person Hengxu shook his head: “Each generation produces new talents—you and I are merely the previous waves.”

Pretentious, starting to put on airs again.

Fudao Shanren was most impatient with such things. Seeing everyone standing there with nothing to say, he spoke directly: “Enough, enough, everyone’s met. Hey, what’s-his-name, Wu Duan. You take this group to tour around Kunwu. This mountain man has things to discuss with your master. Zheng Yao, old second, you two stay!”

True Person Hengxu also looked over: “Go ahead.”

This confirmed Fudao Shanren’s intention.

Wu Duan was stunned—he truly hadn’t expected this task to fall on him again.

He smiled bitterly inwardly, glancing at the composed Qu Zhengfeng beside him. Guessing they needed to discuss the Qingfeng Nunnery situation, he bowed: “This disciple obeys.”

Finished speaking, he bowed, stepped down, and walked before Jian Chou.

“Sister Jian Chou…”

They had met before at the Western Sea.

Wu Duan wore a smile, about to greet Jian Chou, but when he looked up, he met eyes of indescribable calm.

Vaguely, he seemed to sense a bloody smell hiding an unspeakable sorrow.

It also seemed a trace of tears had passed through this woman’s eyes.

But in the blink of an eye, a smile bloomed on this beautiful face, making everything before seem like an illusion.

Jian Chou showed no abnormality, slightly curving her lips. Seeing Wu Duan somewhat dazed, she bowed: “Thank you for your trouble, Brother Wu.”

After a long while, Wu Duan finally reacted, quickly waving his hand and leading the way.

“Please.”

Jian Chou nodded, leaving with the many Yashan disciples and Wu Duan, bidding farewell to Fudao Shanren, descending the numerous steps to finally reach the spacious Cloud Sea Plaza.

Once down, the many Yashan disciples behind became excited.

Shen Jiu laughed heartily: “Alright, alright, everyone relax. Hey, Brother Wu, we’re all quite familiar with Kunwu. Before coming this year, Fairy Chiling already invited me to bring people to taste the cloud spirit fruits behind the mountain. Shen has been craving them for ages. Old rules, won’t be polite—I’m leaving first!”

Finished speaking, Shen Jiu unhesitatingly flew away!

Little fatty Jiang He stamped his foot: “Fourth Senior Brother, you’re too fast! Don’t leave me behind—save some for me!”

As his words fell, he had already transformed into flowing light, plunging down from the Cloud Sea Plaza.

The many Yashan disciples had heard Shen Jiu’s glowing praise of Kunwu’s red spirit fruits before coming. Seeing several martial uncles taking the lead, they all expressed their intention to follow Shen Jiu to Wu Duan.

Before long, only three people remained in the plaza.

Sword fanatic Kou Qianzhi, hugging his long sword, stood not far away, looking at Jian Chou and asking: “Senior Sister, aren’t you going?”

“…”

Why did they really seem to treat Kunwu like a back garden?

Regarding everything below, Yashan disciples all seemed very familiar.

Indeed, the relationship between the two sects was slightly better than she had imagined.

However…

Perhaps it was only because the lurking crisis hadn’t yet erupted.

Thinking this, Jian Chou shook her head: “You all go ahead.”

Very well.

Kou Qianzhi then said: “Then I’ll go first too.”

With that, he also flew away on his sword, catching up with the distant cluster of magical artifact lights.

Wu Duan watched from behind, couldn’t help but press his forehead.

Jian Chou looked at him.

Wu Duan finally showed a bitter smile: “Uncle Chiling manages our Kunwu’s Spirit Plant Hall, often cultivating various immortal herbs and fruits… She… um, particularly favors Yashan cultivators, so every time…”

“I thought it was Junior Brother Shen’s romantic interest…”

Jian Chou laughed, looking back at the Heavens Hall soon obscured by floating clouds, her gaze inscrutable.

But this remark made Wu Duan unable to suppress his amusement: “It seems Sister Jian Chou also understands Junior Brother Shen Jiu’s nature.”

“He just likes to joke around.”

Nothing more.

Jian Chou didn’t wish to discuss further.

“Sometimes I quite envy Yashan’s cultivators—unrestrained, each one different.”

Wu Duan walked ahead, leading by half a step as a guide.

Jian Chou was slightly surprised: “Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Wu Duan nodded affirmatively.

In the past at the Western Sea, his battle with Qu Zhengfeng had been brutal, yet walking in this plaza now, he bore no hostility.

Actually, to be precise, Wu Duan had never harbored any malice to begin with.

Jian Chou felt no ill will toward him, so she could speak of neither like nor dislike.

She followed Wu Duan’s steps: “Are we going to tour Kunwu now?”

“Yes, Sister Jian Chou can see the mountain gates below. Because our two sects are allied, every year at this time, Kunwu specially reserves quarters for Yashan. Wu will also guide Sister to the quarters first.”

Wu Duan explained everything.

Jian Chou understood—all these matters had been entrusted to Wu Duan.

She recalled the fragments heard in the hall, walking while asking seemingly casually: “I heard your sect’s Brother Xie went to the Qingfeng Nunnery hidden realm?”

Brother Xie.

This was truly awkward to say.

The moment the words left her mouth, Jian Chou herself was stunned.

Indeed, she was now Yashan’s Senior Sister, while Xie Buchen was merely True Person Hengxu’s thirteenth true disciple. Even Wu Duan had to address her as “Sister” upon meeting her. She truly wondered what Xie Buchen would call her if they met in the future—former spouses, what should their address be?

A peculiar emotion suddenly made Jian Chou laugh.

Setting aside hatred, perhaps there was even an absurd humor in this.

Wu Duan didn’t understand why Jian Chou was laughing, only thinking of Xie Buchen.

That day’s battle on the river…

For some reason, he couldn’t smile.

Wu Duan’s expression grew lighter, saying only: “He went there with your sect’s Brother Qu. But now he hasn’t returned, reportedly trapped there, gravely injured and dying. Master has already sent Senior Brother Yue He to Qingfeng Nunnery to investigate. Whether he can make it to the minor assembly remains uncertain.”

Disappointment?

Secret delight?

Or an indescribable sigh at the vicissitudes of change?

Jian Chou felt momentarily confused, only watching the surging clouds below, smiling: “Brother Wu doesn’t seem very concerned about this matter.”

A rather indifferent tone.

Was it so easy to detect?

Wu Duan looked at Jian Chou for a long moment, then actually smiled, quite honestly saying: “Not caring would be normal—I don’t like this Brother Xie anyway.”

“…”

Jian Chou was stunned, laughing out loud after a long while.

Interesting.

Just as Qu Zhengfeng disliked her, how could Kunwu be any different?

Perhaps Xie Buchen’s situation was also quite amusing?

She couldn’t help but ponder.

Wu Duan only watched her laugh, his eyes carrying a peculiar scrutiny.

This Senior Sister from Yashan always gave the impression of hiding secrets.

People only knew she came from a mortal isolated island but knew no more information, nor did anyone pay attention.

Yet everything she now displayed to everyone couldn’t be accumulated by someone with no past.

Wu Duan discovered he was somewhat curious.

Whoosh…

Wind blew, robes fluttering.

Ahead, there was suddenly the whistling sound of magical artifacts breaking through air.

Wu Duan and Jian Chou almost simultaneously looked up.

Against the clear blue, unobstructed sky, two rays of light flew toward them—one continuing toward the Heavens Hall, the other landing directly on the Cloud Sea Plaza.

It was a deep gray figure, upright as a mountain, beneath wide robes harboring nearly perfect power.

So familiar…

Jian Chou was somewhat surprised.

Zhou Chenjiang?

When she saw him, he also saw her.

Zhou Chenjiang was also unexpected, actually seeing Jian Chou here.

He had never met Kunwu’s Wu Duan before, only glancing past him, then walking forward to size up Jian Chou, smiling: “Chenjiang greets Sister Jian Chou from Yashan. Two years without meeting—congratulations on your cultivation progress, Sister.”

“Congratulations also on Brother Zhou’s fourth place ranking.”

Jian Chou was equally courteous.

However, her eyes suddenly burst with strange light.

Battle intent.

Still not immediately explosive.

At the fifth level of《Human Weapon》body cultivation, she could clearly sense Zhou Chenjiang’s transformation—like a person suddenly reborn, standing there gave the impression of complete renewal.

What were Dragon Gate’s secret techniques like?

Also…

The two Dao Seals Zhou Chenjiang had awakened in Black Wind Cave.

Jian Chou raised an eyebrow: She truly wondered if Qu Zhengfeng would someday be gang-beaten by all of Dragon Gate.

Her battle intent was naturally captured by Zhou Chenjiang.

This was a comparison between two body cultivation fanatics.

Though Jian Chou appeared slender, standing there as if she might ride the wind away at any moment, every inch of her flesh and bone possessed a natural beauty, like polished jade, radiating gentle resilience.

Especially…

When Zhou Chenjiang focused his gaze, he faintly sensed flowing patterns within her body, close to her bones.

Though Jian Chou stood before him now, she already had a sense of melding with the wind.

He suddenly recalled the legend of her riding the wind away from Black Wind Cave, and felt a strange tremor in his heart: like facing a great enemy!

His heart surged with emotion.

Zhou Chenjiang also knew that at this moment, Jian Chou was ranked at the bottom of the list by Zhilin Sou at one hundred.

Perhaps everyone thought Jian Chou was unworthy of her reputation, that being ranked here was already giving face to Yashan. But only he, who had briefly exchanged moves with Jian Chou, could clearly know just how terrifying this female cultivator before him truly was!

Top hundred?

She was beyond even the top ten!

Forcibly suppressing the intense battle intent that wanted to burst from his body.

Zhou Chenjiang’s eyes held no one else, as if he couldn’t even see Wu Duan.

Only Jian Chou!

“Tonight on the Nine-Head River, when the moon rises—what does Sister Jian Chou think?”